GEO Haiti 2010

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GEO HAITI • 2010
4.1 The Eco-regions of Haiti
Haiti possesses six ecological regions: the rainforest,
the dry forest, the pine forest, the mangrove and
the wetlands are the five land-based eco-regions.
The marine eco-region contains animal and plant
species as well as coral reefs 39 .
4.1. Rainforests
Rainforests originally occupied 3/5 of all original
vegetation of Hispaniola. Presently in Haiti, the
vestiges of these forests can be found on the
Tiburon Peninsula in southern Haiti, of capital
importance to the habitats in this region for the
conservation of endangered species (World
Wildlife Fund).
These forests are home to flora and fauna, some
of which are endemic to Hispaniola or to a
section of the island. Among the main fauna
species are mammals such as the hutia or Zagouti
(Plagiodontia aedium), endemic to the island and
on the IUCN Red List. There is also the Solenodon
(Solenodon paradoxus), endemic to Hispaniola 40 ,
birds such as the parrot of Hispaniola (Amazona
ventralis) and the Trogon Damoiseau (Priotelus
roseigaster), both endemic to Hispaniola and
currently endangered, and some twenty types of
bats, native to Hispaniola.
Unfortunately, forest fires, the use of plants as
firewood, the expansion of farmland and of
livestock grazing, as well as hunting have caused
the destruction of their habitat and a net decline
in the number of rainforests 41 .
4.1.2 Dry Forests
Vestiges of dry forests are still to be found in Haiti’s
Morne St Nicolas (Northwest). A variety of trees
and shrubs such as Bayahondes (Prosopis juliflora),
the gum tree (Bursera simaruba), the acassia (Cassia
macracantha), tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and
basswood (Simaruba glauca) can be found as well
as various varieties of cacti such as the (Pilosocereus
polygonus).
Figure 53: An Example of Dry Forest
Source: Jean Vilmond Hilaire
Bird life in Haiti is particularly remarkable, and we
can cite: the dusky Thick-knee (Burhinus bistriatus),
a very discreet specie, which feeds on insects
and small lizards; the slave palm or palm bird of
Hispaniola (Dulus dominions) which is endemic to
the island; a parrot endemic to the island (Amazona
ventralis) and the master-wood owl (Asio stygius)
which is also endemic and on the list of critically
endangered species (Latta et al, 2006). Human
activities such as the expansion of agricultural and
human settlements have greatly contributed to
their reduction.
4.1.3 Pine Forests
Pine forests are to be found in La Visite Park (La
Selle mountain range) and in the Pine Forest
(Southeast Province). They are also present in
Macaya Park (La Hotte mountain range, South
Peninsula). One type of pine, the Pinus occidentalis
is endemic to the island. These pine forests are
found at elevations above 2,000 m (the La Selle
39
www.panda.org et www.nationalgeographic.com
40
www.panda.org
41
www.nationalgeographic.com